Machine for making concrete blocks



' Dec. 13; 1927.

F. B. WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS Filed Au. 4. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l gm GVMULW TWQ y- Mm Dec. 13, 1927.

F. B. WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS Filed A112. 4 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I yd Ina en? Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,805

F. B. WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS Filed Aug. 4. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. WILLIAMS, OF WEST MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHOC- BLOC 00., INC, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Application filed August 4, 1925. Serial No. 48,652.

This invention relates to a machine for making concrete blocks and IS an improvement on the machine shown and described in Letters Patentof the United States No. 1,004,327, issued to me September 26, 1911.

In the use of the machine of said patent for making hollow blocks, it was necessary to use cores for forming the recesses in the blocks and this end was accomplished by fastening suitably shaped cores to the baseplate of the machine and by using pallets having openings through which the cores projected upwardly. It was found, however, that when the pallet with the molded block thereon was removed from the machine at the conclusion of the molding operation that there was considerable difiiculty in raising the pallet upwardly to free the block from the core without disturbing or injuring the block. Frequently interior fractures not discernable on the outside resulted from this method and on the whole it has been most unsatisfactory.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is the production of a machine of the character described having provision for forming hollow blocks which permits the molded blocks to be removed thereupon without injury thereto, and to this end the machine is provided with suitable core forms adapted to be withdrawn from the blocks after they have been molded and before they are removed from the machine.

Another difficulty noted in the use of the machine of said patent was that the removal of the hopper and the surplus concrete upon the completion of a set of blocks involved more or less labor and waste of material.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the hopper may on the completion of each molding operation be moved to one side without loss of the surplus concrete material.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

One of the important features of the present invention consists in providing one or more cores for forming the recess or recesses when hollow blocks are to be made, the core or cores being so mounted that it or they may be withdrawn from the block or blocks upon the completion of the molding operation and before they are removed from the machine to cure. By making the cores slightly tapered the withdrawal operation is accomplished without disturbing the setting of the concrete mixture. and without injury locking means to permit the cores to drop by gravity.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the provision of a construction which at the conclusion of the molding operation permits the hopper with .whatever surplus concrete mixture remains in it to be moved laterally to a table 101 support, to remain there while the molded blocks are being removed fromthe machine and to be returned to operative position with its concrete contents when the mold-box is ready for the next operation. This feature results in much saving of time and labor in the operation of the machine, prevents waste of the concrete mixture and at the same time the moving of the hopper laterally serves to smooth off and finish the tops of the molded blocks, all of which conduces to rapidity of production.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed and adapted to be operated in accordance with my invention, the core mechanism being shown in a withdrawn position; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine looking from right to left in Figure 1; F igure 3 is a plan view of the machine with the hopper removed and showing in dotted-dash lines the open position of the mold-box sides; and Figure 4 is a view in perspective lookingupwardly and on an enlarged scale of the core mechanism, and pallet, the cores being shown as partially withdrawn through the pallet.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one form of the invention, there is shown a frame, which may be of any suitable form,

comprising legs or standards 10 connected by upper and lower cross pieces or braces 12 and 1% respectively, all being preferably of metal riveted together to stand the strain of I the tamping operation. Upon the top of the frame but not attached to it may be mounted a base plate 16 carrying a moldboX made up of two sides 18 and two ends 20, each of the said sides and ends being connected at its bottom edge to the base plate 16 by hinges 22 to permit the sides and ends to be folded outwardly and downwardly to open the mold-box for the removal-of the molded blocks. The ends 20, when the 'mold-box is closed, project slightly beyond the sides 18 and may be provided with channels'or grooves 26 to receive the rabbeted ends of the'sides of the box to maketight' joints and any suitable means maybe provided for holding the s1des and ends of the mold-box in closed condition such as a spr ng bar 28 fastened to each side 18 and having its ends in the form of latches 30 for engaging the ends 20.

For holding surplus concrete mixture necessary in the tamping of the blocks a hopper 32 ofsuitable form may be removably mounted on top of the mold-box, the

front side 18 and the two ends 20 thereof being provided at their upper edges with overlapping strips 34 for retaining the hopper in place. The hopper also facilitates the loading of the mold-box with concrete mixture preparatory to the molding operations.

For supporting the hopper between molding operations, a table or support of any suitable form may be mounted on the frame of the machine in close proximity to the mold-box when closed to permit the hopper, with such surplus concrete as may remain after the molding of the blocks has been completed, to be removed laterally onto the table or support. In the form shown, the table or support comprises a plate 36 supported'by two frames each made up of a "loosely mounted in the horizontal strips 4-0.

The rod 46 is attached to the plate 36 off center and nearer the mold-box so that gravity causes the plate to tilt with its outer edge lowermost into engagement with a stop 50 which limits the downward movement to an amount sufficient only to permit that side of the mold-box adjacent the inner edge of the plate to clear, said inner edge when the moldbox is opened. The plate 36 may be proper for guiding the hopper as it is moved laterally from the DIOlCl-bol onto the plate 36. A. handle 58 extending along the front side of the hopper may be provided for corn venience 1n moving the hopper toward and from the support 36.

The bottom of the mold-box consists of a pallet 60 which is designed to be removed with the molded blocks after each operation and set aside for the curing of the blocks, another pallet being substituted for the succeeding operation. To facilitate the removal of the pallet by afiording the space underneath 'forthe insertion of the fingers, suitable ribs 62 may be formed on the'under side of each pallet or mounted on the baseplate 16.

/Vhen hollow blocks are made, cores are required for the formation of the internal recesses in the blocks and for this purpose a core mechanism capable of withdrawal from the finished blocks may be provided. One form of such means is shown in the machine of the drawings which is adapted for making two hollow blocks, each having two recesses, and comprises a set of four cores 6% fastened to. a skeleton base66 which in turn is secured to the T-shaped head of a vertically disposed rack-bar 68. To facilitate the withdrawalofthe cores from the molded blocks, the cores may be slightly tapered upwardly to separate them entirely from contact with the blocks on the beginning of the downward movement. The base-plate and pallet maybe provided with suitable openings permitting the passage of the cores.

The cores 6e, base 66 and raclebar 68 move as a unit and any suitable means may be provided for accomplishingthis such as a pinion 70 fixed on a shaft 72 rotatably mounted lengthwise the machine in supports 74 secured to the frame." A handle 75 may be provided for rotating said shaft to raise and lower said core mechanism through the medium of the'pinion and rack-bar.

To look the core mechanism in a raised operativeposition two supporting levers 76 are pivotally connected by pins 71 to the under side of the base-plate 16 (Fig. 3) ex ending forwardly to the front side of the mechine'where their ends. may be turned to form handles. The, forward ends of the levers 76 may be supported between strips 77 which may be secured to the base-plate 16 or to blocks 73 fastened to said baseplate. After the cores are raiser. the two levers 7 6 are moved toward each other into the position shown in Figure 3 where they support the skeleton base 66 and cores 64- and when the cores are ready to be dropped. the levers, are then moved apart into parallel. relation with the endof the mold-box.

In the tamping operation the base-plate l6, mold-box, hopper and supporting levers 76 are moved as a unit, suitable means being provided for accomplishing this result, and in the form shown comprising two depending rack-bars 78 fastened to the under side of the base-plate 16, each rack-bar meshing with a pinion 79 secured on a rock-shaft 8O rotatably mounted in end cross-strips 81 which may be parts of the frame of the machine. A curved dog 83 is fixed on one end of said rock-shaft and a gear-wheel 84, rotatably mounted on a short shaft 85 carried by one of the cross-strips 81 and a frame or bracket 86 secured to the frame of the machine is provided with a plurality of pins 87 spaced apart at equal intervals on its inner face and near its periphery. The gearwheel 84 is mounted eccentrically with relation to the rock-shaft 80 so that the rotation of the gear-wheel causes the pins to successively engage the dog 83 to rock the shaft 80 to raise the mold-box a slight distance, the latter dropping upon the frame as the dog slips off a pin in the continued rotation of the gear-wheel. For convenience in operating the gear-wheel, a pinion 90 meshing therewith is rotatably mounted in a bracket 94 on the frame of the machine and the hub 92 of the pinion may be provided with a handle 93. Guide pins 98' carried by the base-plate 16 guide it in its up and down movement.

The operation of the machine is as follows. The mold-box may, by the use of suitable partitions, be employed for molding a plurality of blocks, the number being dependent upon the size and shape of the blocks, but as shown it is divided into two chambers by a partition 99 for molding two hollow blocks, each having two interior recesses, and the ends 20 of the mold-box are provided with panels 100 for forming recesses in the ends of the blocks.

In preparing the machine for use, the mold-box is closed, the hopper placed in normal position on the top, the core mechanism is raised and the supporting levers are moved into the position illustrated in Figure 3. The mold-box is then filled with the concrete mixture from which the blocks are to be formed, the mixture being heaped up in the hopper to take care of the condensing due to the tamping and to avoid stopping the machine during the forming of the blocks which might result in line of cleavage in the finished product. To a certain extent the presence of the hopper permits material to be added without stopping the machine but great care should be used in doing this to prevent lines of cleavage.

After the mold-box has been'filled, the machine may be started in operation through the medium of the handle 93 which causes the gear-wheel 84 to be rotated. As a pin 87 comes in engagement with the dog 83 it carries the dog with it, turning the rock-shaft 80 and through the medium of the pinions 79 and rack-bars 78 raises the base-plate and mold-box with its contents. This upward movement continues until in the continued rotation of the gear-wheel the dog slips off the pin, whereupon the mold-box drops upon the frame of the machine causing its contents to be tamped. The next succeeding pin then engages the dog and the operation is repeated so long as the gear-wheel is rotated. The distance of the drop of the moldbox may be regulated by lengthening or shortening the dog which, of course, will affect to some degree the rapidity with which the blocks are reduced to the desired density.

At the conclusion of the tamping operation, the hopper is moved laterally from the mold-box onto the table 36, carrying with it the surplus concrete mixture and smooth ing off the tops of the blocks. The levers supporting the core mechanism are then moved from their supporting to an inopcrative position and the core mechanism, if it does not drop immediately by'force of gravity, may be withdrawn from the blocks by the operation of the handle 75, pinion 7 O and rack-bar 68. This should be done before the mold-box is opened since the sides of the box afiord support to the blocks as the cores are separated therefrom. 7

After the cores have been separated from the blocks, the sides and ends of the moldbox are opened out and the pallet with the blocks thereon may be taken out and set aside to permit the blocks to cure for the required period. Another pallet is then placed in position, the mold-box is closed up and the hopper is moved laterally to the top of the mold-box carrying with it the con crete mixture left over from the previous molding operation and the machine is then ready for the next molding.

It will be observed that my invention reduces to a minimum the amount of labor necessary in molding concrete blocks and that in consequence it is possible to produce the blocks very rapidly. Although the machine is shown as adapted for hand operation, it is obvious that it may be operated by power if desired by making suitable changes for that purpose which would be apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment hereinbefore shown and described but is capable of exemplification in. various other forms all within the purview of the following claims.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box mounted for jogging in a straight vertical path, a core in said mold-box for forming the recess in the block and means for withdrawing said core through the bottom oi said mold-box at the conclusion 01" the molding operation to permit the finished block to be removed from the machine.

2. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a mold box mounted for jogging in a straight vertical path. a removable pallet forming the bottom oi said mold-box, a core, means for locking said core within said mold-box during the jogging operation and means for withdrawing said core from said mold-box at the conclusion of the moldi operation to permit the removal of the li ished block.

3. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box mounted for joggin in a straight vertical path and having s-soes adapted to open outwardly and downwardly to permit the removal of the molded block, a removable pallet forming the bottom or said mold-box and having a central opcni g. a core mount ed in said mold-box for w lthdrawal through the opening in said pallet to permit said pallet and the finished block to be removed from the machine. 7

etc In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of moldibox mounted for jogging in a straight vertical path to t amp its contents to form a block, a. pallet removably mounted in. said moldbox and constituting the bottom hereof, said pallet having a central through and through opening, a core within said molt.-

box, means for locking said core in operative positionin said mold-box during said ging, and means for withdrawing said core from said mold-box through the opening in said pallet upon the conclusion of the molding'operation to permit the pallet and'tinished block to be removed.

5. In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box mounted for jogging in a straight verticai path and having sides hinged at the bottom and adapted to open outwardly. to permit the molded block to be removed, a removable pallet torming'the bottom of said n'iold-box and having a central through and through opening, a core projecting through said opening into said moid-box to form the ZQCGBS? 1n the hollow block, means for su 'iporting said core in operative position, means for withdrawing said core from said mold-box through said pallet at the conclusion of the molding operation to permit said pallet and molded block to be removed.

6. In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box mounted for jogging in a straight vertical path and having hinged sides permittino the box to be opened for the removal or the finished block, a removable pallet in said mold-box for supporting the molded block,

crete blocks, the combination of a moldbox having an opening in its bot-tom a core projecting upwardly through said opening into said mold-box for forming the recess in the molded block, means for jogging said mold-box in a straight path to mold the block and means to withdraw said core from said mold-box to permit the finished block to be removed 8. In a machine for making hollow con crete blocks, the combination of a mold-box having an opening in its bottom, a core projecting upwardly through said opening into said mold-box for forming the recess in the hollow block, means for holding said core in operative position, means for jogging said mold-box in a straight path to mold the block by tamping and means tor withdrawing said core from the molded block at the conclusion of the molding operation to permit'it to be removed from the mold box. 7

9.-In a machine 'for making concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box, means for jogging said box to mold the block, a hopper mounted on said box for holding a surplus supply of concrete, and a support arrangedadjacent to said mold-box in position to receive and hold said hopper between molding operations; said support being in sufiiciently close proximity to said mold-box to permit said hopper at the conclusion of the molding operation to be moved laterally from said mold-box to said support and to carry with it without loss the surplus concrete material.

10. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box,

means for jogging said box to tamp the block, a hopper removably mounted on said box for holding surplus concrete and a table support adjacent one side of and on a level with the top of said box for holding said hopper and the surplus concrete between the molding operations.

11.111 a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box, means for jogging said box to form the block by tamping, a hopper removably mounted on the top of said box for holding a supply of concrete and a table at one side of said box and in a position to receive and hold said hopper between molding operations; the inner edge of said table being in close proximity to the side of said box at its top to permit the said hopper to be moved laterally from said box to said table and to carry with it any surplus concrete without loss of same.

12. In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box having sides hinged at the bottom and adapted to open outwardly and downwardly to per mit the removal of the finished block, means for jogging said box to. form the block by tamping, a hopper reniovably mounted on the top of said box for holding a supply of concrete and a table-support at one side of said box for supporting said hopper and the surplus concrete between molding operations; said table-support being mounted oft center and being adapted to tilt upwardly when supporting said hopper in order to leave clearance room at its inner edge for the opening of said mold-box.

18. In a. machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box, a removable pallet forming the bottom of said mold-box, said pallet having a through and through core opening, a core mounted for movement through said pallet into and out of said mold-box and means for locking said core in operative posit-ion in said moldbox during the molding operation, said means comprising a lever mounted for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane only and adapted, when said core is in a raised operative position, to be moved under said core for holding it in said raised position.

14. In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box, a removable pallet provided with a plurality of openings forming the bottom of said mold-box, a plurality of cores corresponding in number to the number of openings in said pallet, a skeleton base carrying said cores, means for moving said cores through said core-openings in said pallet into and out of operative position in said mold-box and a. pair of supporting levers, each of said levers being mounted for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane only and both being adapted, when said cores are in a raised operative position, to be moved under said skeleton base for holding it in said raised position.

15. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a mold-box having sides hinged at the bottom and adapted to open outwardly and downwardly to pen mit the removal of the finished block, a hopper mounted on top of said mold-box and slidable off said top for removing surplus material at the conclusion of a molding operation and a table-support at one side of said mold-box in position to receive and hold said hopper and surplus material between molding operations; said table support being mounted off center to permit tilting to allow the mold-box to be opened on all sides.

16. In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a frame, a

plate loosely mounted on said frame and having a core opening, a mold-box secured on said plate, a core, means for moving said core vertically into and out of said mold box through said core opening in said plate, means carried by said plate for locking said core in said mold-box and means for jogging said plate. mold-box and core as a unit in a straight vertical path.

17. In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a. supporting frame, a plate loosely mounted on said frame and having a plurality of core openings, a mold-box carried by and fastened to said plate, a core-frame, a plurality of cores carried by said frame and corresponding in number and arrangement to said plate openings, means for operating said core-frame to move said cores through said plate openings into and out of said mold-box, means carried by said plate for locking said cores in operative position in said mold-box, means for jogging said plate, mold-box and cores as a unit and means for guiding said plate during the jogging operation.

18. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a frame, a plate loosely mounted on said frame and provided with a core opening, a mold-box fixed on said plate, a core, means for moving said core vertically into and out of said mold-box through the core opening in said plate, means carried by said plate for locking said core in said mold-box, means for jogging said plate, mold-box and core as a unit in a straight vertical path, means for guiding said plate in its vertical movement; said core moving means being so constructed as not to interfere with said jogging operation.

19. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a fixed frame, a plate loosely supported on said frame and provided with a plurality of core openings, a mold-box fixed on said plate and having sides adapted to open outwardly and downwardly to permit the removal of the molded contents, a skeleton frame, a plurality of cores carried by said frame, means for moving said skeleton frame vertically to move said cores into and out of said mold-box through the core openings in said plate, means-carried by said plate for locking said cores Within said mold-box and means for jogging said plate, mold-box and cores as a unit in a straight vertical path; said skele ton frame moving means being so arranged as not to interfere with the jogging operation.

20. In a machine for making hollow concrete blocks, the combination of a frame, a plate loosely supported on said frame and provided with a plurality of core openings, a mold-box carried by and fixed to said plate, a skeleton frame, a plurality of cores mounted upright on said skeleton frame and corresponding in number and arrangement to said core openings in said plate, means for moving said skeleton frame vertically to vmove said cores through said plate openings into and out of said mold-box, means carried 'by said plate for looking said cores within structed as not to interfere with said jogging operation.

21. A block making machine comprising molds, a bottomless hopper movably mount ed, means for passing block making material into said hopper,n1eans for passing said hopper over said molds, and means for jarring said molds. i

In Witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of July, 1925.

FRANK B. WILLIAMS. 

